MLB: Mariners' Santiago first player banned for foreign substance amid crackdown

MLB handed down a suspension, which Seattle Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago will appeal.

Stats PerformUpdate: Jun 29th, 2021 19:25 EDT

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Seattle Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago has been banned for 10 games and fined by MLB for having a foreign substance on his glove during Sunday’s clash with the Chicago White Sox.

Santiago is the first player to be suspended amid MLB’s crackdown on foreign substances, though the 2015 All-Star is appealing the decision.

The 33-year-old became the first player to be ejected as part of MLB’s growing stance after he was tossed in the fifth inning of the Mariners’ 3-2 win over the White Sox.

Mariners manager Servais “surprised” by punishment

“It was rosin and rosin is behind the pitcher’s mound, so it’s not foreign. It’s not a foreign substance,” Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters on Tuesday.

“So I am surprised, to some degree. But I understand what Major League Baseball is trying to do, they’re trying to create a level playing field and understand why they decided to do this in the middle of the season.”

Since 21 June, MLB has enhanced its enforcement of the rules that prohibit applying foreign substances to baseballs, with pitchers subjected to random checks and could face ejections, fines and suspensions of 10 games.

Making our first trip to Sahlen Field. #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/g5dN4EAxGS

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) June 29, 2021

Santiago: “All I used was rosin”

Santiago had his glove inspected and confiscated in the opening game of the doubleheader, though the veteran insisted he only used rosin.